Asia Water Wire - Thailand

THAILAND: River Diversion Plans For Whose Benefit?

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:57:41 -0500

By Kornpan Winwong - Newsmekong*

BANGKOK, Aug 4 (IPS) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s plans to divert water from rivers in neighbouring Laos to help feed agricultural production faces stiff opposition from activists, who argue the ambitious projects could threaten the environment and local people’s lives.

THAILAND: Locals Rue Decline of the Bang Pakong River

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:58:53 -0600

By Prangtip Daorueng*

CHACHOENGSAO, Thailand, Nov 16 (IPS/AMIC) - "The river has changed. It has become narrow and unusually dry in the dry season," says fisherman Pohnpaisarn Wimonrat. "There is no longer enough fish for a small fisherman like me to catch."

THAILAND: Submergence - Grim Reality for Coastal Folk

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:44:33 -0500

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

KHUN SAMUTCHINE, Thailand, May 3 (IPS) - The sound of waves from the nearby sea is no comfort for the chief abbot of the Buddhist temple in this fishing village in the Gulf of Thailand.

It is a constant reminder of the peril that awaits the temple, Wat Khun Samuttrawachine, built in 1967, from an encroaching sea. ‘'This temple is always under threat from the sea; during the monsoon it is worse,'' says Phra Somnuk Atipanyo in a quiet tone.

Dams on Salween Threaten Indigenous Groups

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:24:26 -0600

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (IPS) - Being a village headman means little if you live in a community nestling in the hills close to Thailand's northern border with Burma. More so, if officials have plans to use your village for a large ‘development' project.

Floods A Burden Borne By The Poor

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 02:05:56 -0600

By Gerald Goh

BANGKOK, Nov 20 (Asia Water Wire) – While relief operations are underway for the inundated provinces of central Thailand, debate goes on as to how government policies have impacted on rural farmers living in flood-affected areas.

Bash on Water Marked Royal Milestone

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 22:03:10 -0500

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

Oarsmen rowed the royal barges down the Chao Phraya River past the Grand Palace during the celebrations marking the Thai monarch's 60 years on the throne (picture taken from The Nation newspaper).

BANGKOK (IPS) - When the sun set on June 12, the gently flowing Chao Phraya river, which undulates past this sprawling city, reclaimed for an hour its role as the cradle of Thai culture.

Flash Floods Warn of Climate Change

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 01:21:39 -0500

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK (IPS) - Flash floods that hit northern Thailand in May, killing nearly 100 people, have revealed the vulnerability of communities to freak weather patterns in the region, say environmentalists. And this, they warn, will not be the last.

The heavy rains in the three worst-hit provinces bear this out. Uttaradit, Sukhothai and Phrae received a fifth of their annual rainfall, which is 1,500 millimetres, leading to flash floods and mudslides in May 23.

Water Warriors Bent on Saving Bangkok 'Klong'

Thu, 18 May 2006 03:16:27 -0500

By Frances Suselo

The Hua Lamphong 'Klong', stagnant and choked with wastes, runs along side the Klong Toey slum area, with inhabitants sometimes living right under the highway.

BANGKOK (Asia Water Wire) - The canal’s water is still black, and its stench still wafts through the air. Nevertheless, 53-year-old Siriporn Sawasdee insists that the water quality in the Hua Lamphong ‘klong’ or canal, which passes through Bangkok’s Klong Toey slum, is actually better now.

“There are fish and frogs in the water,” she said, then quickly added: “But still, nobody dares to eat them yet because even the fish’ eyes have turned black.”